Jesus Moved Many To Believe, Some To Inform, And One To Prophesy

What Did Jesus Do?

“Many of the Jews believed in him...some went and told the Pharisees...
But Caiaphas prophesied.”
John 11.45,46,49-51

The only people with unformed opinions about Jesus are people who are totally uninformed about Jesus. Everyone who has heard about Jesus either believes what they've heard, that he is who he is, the Son of God, sole Lord and Savior of lost sinners, or, not believing, they seek to connect with others who are sure they know who Jesus is not, or, unwittingly, they utter prophecies about Jesus. Personally, I wouldn't get too close to those who prophesy about Jesus, because though what they say about him may be the unwitting truth, how they act/react to Jesus is always wrong, dead wrong. Just like Caiaphas.

You do know that Caiaphas is dead, don't you? It's funny, though the high priest was determined to see Jesus dead, and led the way in making the plans which led to Christ's crucifixion, there is no evidence today that Jesus is dead, but, on the contrary, mountains of evidence that Jesus lives. On the other hand, you can go to a museum in Jerusalem and view the ossuary (bone jar), that still contains the mortal remains of Caiaphas, who has been quite dead for nearly two thousand years now. As I said, though Caiaphas prophesied truth about Jesus, his actions were dead wrong. Thankfully, God's people benefited from the huge mistake of Caiaphas, for in seeing that the Lamb of God was slain, Caiaphas offered to the Father the one acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin—the Son.

It seems to me that what still matters is what do we do with what we have heard and seen about Jesus. Do we, like many who accompanied Mary to the tomb of her brother Lazarus, and witnessed his being called out from the tomb after being dead for four days, believe? If we are believers, then it's the whole truth about Jesus that we believe. Unlike those who pick and choose from the Scriptures to fashion what in reality is nothing more than an idol to suit their personal likes and dislikes, believers embrace the entire Word of God, as it is the Holy Spirit who reveals, well, all truth. Believers receive, from the Spirit, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help them. And, yes, it is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who “so help” all believers.

Of course, there are still plenty of “informers” out there. These people, having heard and seen the same things about Jesus as believers, choose instead to “inform” themselves and others about who they are certain Jesus is not. The Jesus Seminar comes to mind. The members of the Jesus Seminar spend all their time talking and writing about who Jesus isn't, and what he didn't do or say. Like the people who felt compelled to run to the Pharisees and inform on the whereabouts and works of Jesus, folks today like those in the Jesus Seminar refuse to accept the testimony of what they have heard and seen, and go about trying to tear Jesus down. But, it doesn't matter how lofty the pretensions of informers are, they can't come close to touching the Savior who has been raised on high at the right hand of the Father for two millennia now.

As for the prophesiers, well, as I said, I wouldn't get too close to them. Though they may speak truth, the conclusions they come to about the truth, and which direct their actions, are wrong. And their end will be like that of Caiaphas, who, though he prophesied truth about the One who had to perish in order that many should live, never understood or accepted that truth, and so he is dead, while the Lamb of God, whose death he orchestrated, lives!

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4